Under the terms of the Settlement Agreement, the Refugee Class consisted of those individuals who were denied entry into or expelled from Switzerland, or admitted into Switzerland but abused or mistreated. For more information on the Refugee Class, please refer to Annex J of the Distribution Plan.

The Distribution Plan recommended by the Special Masters and adopted by the Court authorized the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany ("Claims Conference") to process the claims of Jewish claimants, and the International Organization for Migration ("IOM") to process the claims of Roma, Jehovah’s Witness, homosexual and disabled claimants. Class members who indicated a possible refugee claim on their Initial Questionnaire were sent refugee program applications either by the Claims Conference or the IOM. As with the other classes, applications also were made available over the Internet, and at Holocaust survivor help centers around the world.

Surviving refugees (or the heirs of refugees who died on or after February 16, 1999) originally were to receive $2,500 if they were denied entry into or expelled from Switzerland, while those admitted but mistreated were to receive $500. Those payments subsequently were increased, respectively, to $3,625 and $725. Class members were awarded $4,350 if they were both expelled/denied entry, and admitted but mistreated.

Claims were processed by the Claims Conference and the IOM on an individualized basis, and submitted to Special Masters for review, and then to the Court.

Case summaries relating to Jewish survivors who were denied entry into or expelled from Switzerland, or admitted but mistreated, can be accessed here.

Case summaries relating to Roma survivors who were denied entry into or expelled from Switzerland, or admitted but mistreated, can be accessed here.

Case summaries relating to Jehovah’s Witness survivors who were denied entry into or expelled from Switzerland, or admitted but mistreated, can be accessed here.

Case summaries relating to Homosexual survivors who were denied entry into or expelled from Switzerland, or admitted but mistreated, can be accessed here.

Case summaries relating to Disabled survivors who were denied entry into or expelled from Switzerland, or admitted but mistreated, can be accessed here.